Sucker-rod spacer



A g- 1929. P. R. G. BIEDERMANN 1,724,176

SUCKER HOD SPACER Filed March 22, 1927 Hill n E N .ima

INVENTOR. P R G915 L'eocrmann BY M} ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 13,1929.

sTATEs PAUL R. G. BIEDERMANN, DE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SUCKER-ROD SPACER.

Application filed March 22, 1927. Serial No. 117,460.

My invention relates to spacers for sucker rods, and more particularlyto those devices I It is well known that in well drilling it isimpossible to drill an absolutely straight hole. Hence, it is clear,that the sucker rod, which is attached to the well pump, and which issuspended and moves freely w thin the tubing, accordingly cannot move ina true central position therein. As the couplings which connect thesucker rods to each other are of a larger diameter than the rodsthemselves there is a tendency of said couplings to wear through thetubing, causing the fluid to run back into the well instea of beingpumped to the surface. Obviously, this condition soon causes a seriousloss to the well-operator, especially since it is practically impossibleto become aware of the same. Further, the frequent pulling of the tubingis quite expensive, and further results in the shutting down of the wellfor at least from one to three days, causingadditional losses inproduction. By the use of my invention all these deleterious featuresare effectively done away with.

It accordingly is an object of m invention to provide a novel form 0device which will properly maintain at all'times the sucker rod in acentral position. wit-hm the tubing in its movement therein, and whichconsists of two elongated complemen tary members, preferably constructedof 1 suitable material, such as wood, hinged together by a novel form ofclamping member positioned mid-way between the ends of said members, thefree ends of which clamping member are hinged together, the assemblybeing positioned on the sucker rod, thus effectively maintaining saidrod in proper central position in the tubing.

The above and further objects and advantages, which will hereinaftermore fully appear, I attain by the device constructed in accordance withthis specification and draw-..

ings forming a part of this application.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which similarreference characters denote similar parts. In the drawmgs,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the declamp 14 is formed of two at20, the free ends 22 and 24 being cut awa in complementary vicepositioned on the sucker rod in the well tubing,

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the side of the device opposite to thatshown in Fig. 1, but removed from the tubing,

Fig. 3 is. afragmentary elevational detail view showing the manner inwhich the clamp is set in thespacing members,

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the other part of the hinged clamp, and

Fig. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5, Fig.1.

Describing my invention more in detail, the device is composed of two ormore complementary spacing members or pieces 2 and 4, preferablyconstructed of wood, and of elongated form, each tapered as at .6, so asto prevent the ends being caught by projections in the tubing as theassembly is swung back and forth therein.

The members 2 and 4 are formed from a cylindrical piece having alongitudinal bore therethrough, said'members or pieces being of across-sectional area subtended by arcs ofv no more than 120 degrees, orone-third of a circle, the inner arc of each formingv the surface forengaging with thesucker rod, designated by the numeral 8. This, whensaid pieces or members are positioned on the sucker rod, leaves twowedge-shaped passages 10, subtending arcs of degrees, or one-sixth of acircumference, forming, in addition to the clearance between the deviceand the tubing, passages for the fluid. See more particularly Fig. 5.

Each of the pieces 2 and 4 is cut away. as at 12, for thereception ofthe clamp, designated generally by the numeral 14-. vThis cut-out orcut-away portion is preferably positioned midway between the ends of thepieces 2 and 4. for convenience in assembly and manipulation.

As seen more particularly in. Fig. 5, the

curved as shown to conform to the curvature of the sucker rod 8, hingedtogether as .3 100 form so that they will interengage, the parts, ifdesired, being bent outwardly or inwardly to provide a passage for thereception of a locking key 26, which, when the device is in position onthe sucker rod 8, may be bent and hammered down at parts 16 and 18,

'both ends so that there will be no projections to catch into anything,and at the same time form an effective lock which, when de- To removethe device from the sucker rod 8, the bent-over portions of the lockingpin or key 26 are straightened by any convenient implement, and said keyremoved d. after which it is a simple matter to'swing the hinged partsaway from the'sucker .rod. To assemble, the hinged portions permit theassembly to be positioned on the sucker rod 8, the key 26 pushed homethrough the bent-' over parts 22, after which the upper and lower partsof the key 26 are hammered into position as hereinbefore explained. Newkeys are used when needed.

Of course any preferred vices, such as described, are used on the suckerrods, preferably-one for each joint, said devices beingeither finallylocked to the rods, or may be so locked thereto that they can beslidable thereon, the hinged clamp forming an effective andexceedinglysimple means for quickly placing the device on the rods orremovmg the same therefrom, when the wooden pieces become worn and needreplacement.

Moreover I have shown but two devices 2 and 4, it will be clear that anypreferred number of such devices may be used.

Attention is also directed to the-fact that there is a positive lock,the clamp itself be- .ing locked, and at the same time permits thedevice to be locked on the sucker rods. This insures'that the devicecannot be dislocated,

. even when the wooden parts are badly worn.

. depends Moreover, the number of wooden pieces, is immaterial anyconvenient number may be used. When the device is locked on the rods, itbecomes one single entity, and this neither on the rods nor the tubing'to'make it so. By the use of the hinged clampthe spacers may be quicklyapplied, without any adjustment. All that is required is to push the keyhome, and hammer one or both ends into position.

The device cannot come apart even though the wooden parts become badlyworn, andwill reduce to a minimum the wear on the tubing, keeping .therods at all times in a central position therein.

While I have thus described my invention with great particularity, itwill be clear number of de-- 'holdin that the same may be modifiedthroughout a wide range. I accordingly. do not propose to be limited tothe exact details of construction' shown and described, but reserve theright in practice'to make any and all modifications thereof that fallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sucker rod spacer including a set of spaced apart, symmetricallypositioned, complementary spacing members adapted to protect said suckerrod, each of said members being cut away to provide a set of aligneddepressions, a curved and hinged clamping device countersunk in said depressions and secured to said members, and a detachable key for holdingsaid device together, said hinge and said key being posigioned withinthe spaces between said memers.

2. A device of the class described includlnga rod, a protective meansfor said rod,

said means comprising a set of elongated spaced-apart complementarymembers, each of said members having a cylindrical crosssectional areanot in excess of one-third that of a right cylinder, and a clampingdevice, distinct and separate from said members, and secured thereto,for holding said members to said rod, said clamping device being hingedand keyed together, said hinge and key being positioned in the spacesbetween said members.

3. A sucker rod spacer including a pair of complementary members, spacedapart to provide passages for a circulating medium, a clamp countersunkinternally in said members and secured thereto, for clamping saidmembers to said rod, a hinge associated with said clamp, said hingebeing positioned in one of the spaces between said members and protectedthereby, and avertical key for said clamp and said members in detachable relation with said rod, said key being also positioned in one of saidspaces and protected thereby.

4. A device 'for centrally positioning the sucker rod within an oilwell'tubing, including a pair of spaced apart complementary cylindricalmembers, internally curved to fit said rod, a hinged clamp, countersunkin said members and secured thereto, said hinge being positioned withinone of the spaces between said members and thus protected thereby, and adetachable key for detachably connectlng the other ends of said clamp,and also positioned in one of said spaces,- and thus protected thereby,one of the ends of said key being adapted to be bent over said clamp toprevent its accidental removal.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

PAUL R. G. BIEDERMANN.

